“The Right To Vote Is The Right Upon Which All Other Rights Depend”

Election day is just a few weeks away, and the stakes are high here in Pennsylvania. I see many undecided voters among my peers who feel they cannot support either candidate. While I completely understand why, I also see why voting in this election is imperative. The past few elections have wholly altered the trajectory of the political spectrum in the United States. People no longer fear the repercussions of their unpopular thoughts, primarily when rooted in intolerance and bigotry. Instead, hate groups bask in this newfound representation, using these very political figures to spearhead their violent attacks and domestic terrorism. Inflated egos and narcissism further fuel this, resulting in laws and changes that are reversing necessary progress that the United States has made. We can potentially prevent that by showing up on Election Day. Slight change is better than no change and far better than the alternative.

This aside, speaking up for those who may not have a voice is also essential. I am incredibly passionate about participating in every election because my parents come from a country where voting is a luxury. While we understand that labeling America as a democracy can have blurred lines, my homeland uses democracy to hide its true dictatorship, masking its discrimination and cruelty behind the glitz and glamor of celebrities as well as the weight of religion. Even here in the United States, there are many people whose futures are in our hands without the ability to cast a vote. Although some states are slowly working to change this precedent, the overall rule has been that felons cannot vote in elections. This has become a significant discussion in Hip-Hop, as many of these artists have had a run-in with the law, some for more minor issues that genuinely should have no impact on their political rights. In today’s article, we’ll highlight some of the rappers who have been stripped of this right but still continue to advocate for others to exercise their ability to stabilize the future of the United States.

Although in his song, “Letter To Takeoff,” Gucci Mane flexes that, “I don’t have the right to vote, I don’t play politics,” his activism says otherwise. He has been known for stepping out to college campuses and political rallies since back in 2016 when he was finally released from prison. He expressed remorse in front of crowds because he felt numerous personal issues that impacted his family and his life were at stake, but he couldn’t use his vote to make a change. But that hasn’t stopped him from speaking out and encouraging others.

21 Savage touched on his inability to vote in “Nothin’ New” when he rapped, “I used to sell dope, now I can’t vote. Poppin’ Percocets to kill the pain, I can’t cope.” His history with drugs led to the development of his name, 21 Savage, on his 21st birthday when he was shot during a drug deal gone wrong, and continued to hinder his growth when he was pulled over in a vehicle carrying drugs. However, his criminal history makes 21 Savage a unique example because it isn’t the only reason he can’t vote. 21 Savage’s residential status came into question a few years back when he was deported back to the United Kingdom with a potential ban of 10 years because his visa expired when he was just a child. Similarly to many children brought to the United States, he had no idea about the need for a visa, unknowingly residing in the US as an illegal immigrant. Illegal immigrants and other non-citizens, including those who are permanent legal residents, are also unable to vote in the elections despite their status continuously being a hot topic. While 21 Savage is relatively quiet about voting, he is highly vocal about granting children legal immigration status when arriving in the US at young ages or expediting the citizenship process, making it easier for immigrants to eventually vote.

In his song, “My Whip Hot,” E-40 talks about how he was pushed into selling drugs to get by, resulting in charges that took away his right to vote. He rhymes, “I was built this way, it’s mandatory where I stay. I’m sellin’ broccoli and coke, tryna keep my family afloat. Me, you and a bunch my n* in the same boat. The economy’s fucked up, it’s fucked up, I can’t vote. ‘Cause I got priors and plus a jail record long as a rope.” He additionally talks about these struggles in his track, “In The Ghetto,” when he raps, “ankle monitors, push coke, felonies, can’t vote. Crack cocaine dope, reek house swivel coke. How did it get here, we broke, we don’t know no trains planes or boats.” In both examples, he expresses disdain for his past actions and where they left him, leaving what feels like little room for reform in the name of survival. That said, E-40 can vote now and hasn’t taken that lightly in the past few elections. Rather than resenting the system that kept him oppressed, he did his civic duty to ensure he exercised his right to vote while motivating others during live performances at rallies and interviews, stressing the importance.

Lil Durk ponders the feelings of letting his community down due to being unable to vote in “The Voice.” He raps, “Know the trenches raised me, I’m Durkio, but I’m Chicago Jay-Z. And I was scared how that money made me. I caught a vibe, but they was lookin’ crazy. Money ran low, right? Felons can’t vote, right? I can’t even vote for who I believe in, shit ain’t goin’ right. I didn’t drop a tear inside the funeral, I ain’t mourn right.” It’s a discouraging feeling to sit back and watch things you actively disagree with unfolding before your eyes. However, Lil Durk decided to take matters into his own hands in the 2020 election when he voted for the very first time by looking into how convicted felons could have their votes cast. Since then, he’s been vocal about having these resources available to other convicted felons so that they could potentially be a part of the democratic process.

Like many other felons, Lil Durk was taught to think that felons had no chance of getting their voices heard in the election. It was a common misconception that has slowly changed, although it isn’t typically advertised widely. Before his passing, Nipsey Hussle left his stamp on YG’s “FDT,” where he spoke out about being in a similar position. In the song, he rapped, “if you like me then you prolly ain’t know, if you been to jail, you can prolly still vote.” Similarly, 2 Chainz and Kanye West helped to let others know in their song, “Feel A Way,” when they rapped, “a felon can vote, spread the message, exhale acapella.” Many rappers, such as Snoop Dogg, went years without voting, thinking they had no chance. However, the state of the political scene pushed many of them to question this, resulting in their opportunity to finally vote in what felt like the most important elections of their lives. Every single vote counts, even more so when those votes stem from issues in dire need of reform, like the prison system, which is constantly being impacted.

Hip-hop and politics have always been intertwined, but rappers are now taking it even more into their own hands to spread the word about voting. A culture that firmly despised the government now sees how these issues impact everyone and how we can change those issues with our votes. 40- and 50-year-old men who never thought they could vote or thought it was important enough to do so are changing their minds and doing what needs to be done to be able to mark a ballot. And yet, some of us are choosing not to exercise those rights. The people we hope to help overseas do not have a right to vote. The people who are oppressing them most likely do. We need to aid the poor, the helpless, the misfortuned, and everyone in between in being heard by pushing for equality and justice and showing we won’t stand for anything trying to disparage that. Lil Baby demonstrates in “The Bigger Picture” that people lost their right to vote because they did what they had to do. In the song, he raps, “I can’t lie like I don’t rap about killing and dope, but I’m telling my youngins to vote. I did what I did ’cause I didn’t have no choice or no hope, I was forced to just jump in and go.” If you have the choice, and if you have the hope, please go to the polling booths. As Mike Jones reiterated in “5 Years From Now” all the way back in 2005, “My advice is please vote, don’t take it as a joke. Cause five years from now the world could be gone in smoke. Now everybody’s gone, cause they ain’t stand strong, and vote for a leader that can lead our country home.” Election day is Tuesday, November 5th. Everywhere, your vote counts, but in Pennsylvania, all eyes are on us. Speak up for those who don’t have a voice. Help build a brighter future for the United States so we can help contribute to a brighter world.

If you’re unsure about whether or not you can go to the voting polls, here are some additional resources:

Pennsylvania Voting Rights Restoration

Guide To Voting After Felony Conviction

Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons

Can I Vote?

Voting As An Ex-Offender

Four Things To Know About Non-Citizen Voting

Non-Citizen Voting In US Elections

Laws Permitting Non-Citizens To Vote

The Myths and Truths of Non-Citizen Voting in the US

Voice of the Experienced – Statement of Palestinian Solidarity and Resources for Convicts/Voter Protection Rights